“Stephen Curry or Allen Iverson who ya got”: Shaquille O’Neal stirs a conversation about who could be the NBA’s GOAT point guard

NBA legend Shaquille O’ Neal recently spoke about how he would like to see a matchup between Allen Iverson and Stephen Curry.

Iverson was not only one of the most skilled players ever to play the game of basketball but was also a cultural icon. AI was the 1st pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, which was probably one of the best draft classes ever.

Iverson had everyone’s attention with his exceptional ball-handling skills and shooting. The former rookie of the year crossed over the G.O.A.T Michael Jordan that had every basketball fan stunned.

 

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The 7th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Stephen Curry is one of the most influential players of recent times. The 3x NBA champion has changed the way the game is played today. The Warriors star has given the 3-point shooting a whole new meaning.

The former unanimous MVP is considered to be the best shooter the game has ever seen. Curry’s ability to move without the ball and deliver on pick and rolls is something, which the league has never witnessed.

Comparing the careers of Allen Iverson and Stephen Curry

Iverson had played a major role in lifting the lost fortunes of the 76ers franchise. The answer was crowned the 2001 NBA MVP. The 76ers were the top seed in the eastern conference that year.

Iverson made his first NBA finals appearance against the Shaq and Kobe-led LA Lakers. The odds were clearly in the Lakers’ favor. Iverson led the 76ers to their first NBA finals since 1983.

The 76ers defeated the LA Lakers in Game One of the finals, with Iverson having a playoff-high of 48-points. One of the most iconic moments of the match was Iverson walking over Tyronn Lue after hitting a clutch shot that led them to a game one win.

17 years ago today, Allen Iverson crossed over Tyronn Lue, hit the jumper, and proceeded to step over him pic.twitter.com/sQoKmAbhc0

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 6, 2018

The answer was a 4x scoring champion and led the league thrice in steals. In his 14 seasons in the league, the 11x NBA All-Star averaged 26.7 PPG on a 42.5% shooting from the field.

Steph Curry had an iconic era with the Golden State Warriors from 2014-2019. The California team went 5 times to the NBA finals and won 3 of them. The 2015-16 Warriors season was the most successful regular season in the history of the league. The Dubs were 73-9 at the end of the season, beating the Bulls’ record of 72 wins.

The former 2x NBA MVP is a threat as soon as he crossed the half-court. In his 12 seasons played so far the Warriors star has averaged 24.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 6.5 APG on a 47.7% shooting from the field, 43.3% from the 3-point line, and 90.7% from the free-throw line.

The matchup

What separates Curry from Iverson is his 3-point shooting ability and his capability to move without the ball. Allen Iverson on the other hand was a ball-dominant player, who never feared driving through the paint to score buckets.

However, the two superstars have always shown mutual admiration and respect for each other talent.

.@alleniverson to Steph: “You’re in my top 5 all day long.” 🙌🏽

[via @NBAonTNT] pic.twitter.com/rDGTkHj1ad

— NBC Sports Bay Area & CA (@NBCSAuthentic) February 18, 2019

Also read: “Not worried about LeBron James recruiting Stephen Curry”: Warriors’ owner Joe Lacob does not think that the Lakers’ star can lure the Baby Faced Assassin